Best and Worst Case Scenario of Every AFC Playoff Team

Catch the NFC Scenarios here.

No. 6 seed: Baltimore Ravens

 

With Ed Reed in and out of the lineup, the concern has been that the Ravens’ defense has been suffering. In reality, the Ravens’ defense is still a solid unit, allowing 17 points of less in eight of their last ten games.

The concern with the Ravens is more focused on the offense. The Ravens looked to be a complete team at the start of their season, scoring more than 30 points in their first three games. That’s the same number of times they’ve hit 30 or more since Nov. 1. The Ravens’ feature a solid rushing attack, but Joe Flacco is limited in his options in the passing game.

Worst Case Scenario: The Ravens lost a game at New England earlier in the season when the Ravens’ passing attack failed to pick up a key fourth down. The Patriots focus on stopping the run, and Flacco struggles to move the ball. The Welker-less Patriots muster enough options to send the Ravens home with a disappointing loss.

Best Case Scenario: The Ravens don’t get far in the playoffs, but they get the satisfaction of avenging their Patriots loss and giving Bill Belichick and Tom Brady their first ever defeat in an opening playoff game. They bow out to the Colts in the divisional round but not without a fight.

 

 

No. 5 seed: New York Jets

 

The just-happy-to-be-here Jets may have gotten into the playoffs due to the Colts and Bengals playing out the string, but the Jets contain two parts of the formula for playoff success: the Jets have one the league’s best when it comes to their imposing rushing attack and they possess a solid defense.

Regardless of how the Bengals took their season finale, the Jets got a confidence boost in their 37-0 mauling of the Bengals. The main question mark this team has is how rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez will handle the pressure of a playoff game.

Worst Case Scenario: An emotional Bengals team comes out with a purpose in stopping the Jets rushing attack. The game falls into the hands of Sanchez and he makes several rookie mistakes. After last week, the Bengals return the favor by blowing out the Jets.

Best Case Scenario: The two teams that may have gifted the Jets a playoff spot become the Jets’ victims again when the stakes are higher. The Jets repeat their beating of the Bengals before stunning the Colts at home. The journey ends in San Diego, but Rex Ryan has a lot of momentum to challenge for the AFC East Division in 2010.

 

 

No. 4 seed: Cincinnati Bengals

 

For only the second time since 1990, the Bengals are in the playoffs. After starting the season an impressive 9-3, Cincinnati managed just one win in their last four games, and that was a late win over the lowly Chiefs. Are the Bengals still the same team that roared through the AFC North with a 6-0 record, or the one that was blown out by the Jets in the season finale?

Unlike the 2005 high flying team, the 2009 Bengals have built their success around a strong running game and a stout defense. Recent injuries to the defense suggest that Carson Palmer and the passing game may be needed to advance in the playoffs.

Worst Case Scenario: Darelle Revis shuts down Chad Ochocinco, limiting Palmer’s options in the passing game. The wear and tear on Cedric Benson shows as he’s unable to carry to load. On the other hand, the Jets’ rushing attack shows no wear and tear as it rolls over the injury-depleted Bengals’ defense.

Best Case Scenario: The Bengals have a little left in the tank and they shut down the Jets, giving the home faithful a much needed playoff win. While the Bengals squad can’t muster enough to upset the Colts, the franchise considers the season a success.

 

 

No. 3 seed: New England Patriots

 

The Patriots may have been one of the more dangerous teams to not earn a bye in the playoffs. That was until Wes Welker was injured and Brady lost his number one receiver.

Now the Patriots have to worry about who’s going to catch the ball if Randy Moss gets double covered. Still, it’s hard to rule out a Brady-led team that is coached by Bill Belichick.

Worst Case Scenario: Brady can’t find anyone to take Welker’s place. The Ravens abuse Moss and Ray Rice runs all over the the Patriots defense. The league’s most successful team of the last decade begins the new one with an embarrassing home playoff loss.

Best Case Scenario: Channeling the magic of the 2001 team, the underdog Patriots make an improbably run to the Super Bowl. After dispatching the Ravens, Bill Belichick finds a way to harass Philip Rivers. Without a running game, the heavily favored Chargers watch the Patriots beat them at home again (as they did in 2006). The Patriots don’t need a fourth down conversion to beat the Colts. In Miami, the Patriots ruin the story ending of Favre’s Vikings and claim their fourth Super Bowl title.

 

 

No. 2 seed: San Diego Chargers

 

After a 2-3 start, the Chargers are on a league-high 11-game winning streak. They may be the favorites to win the Super Bowl. Philip Rivers has had a career year in leading a Charger offense that has six games of scoring 30 or more points.

While the defense isn’t as strong as it’s been in the past, it’s still a talented unit that’s full of speed. If the Chargers have a true weakness, it’s the rushing attack. San Diego is next to last in the league in rushing.

Worst Case Scenario: In 2006, the Chargers were the odds-on favorite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Instead, they were one-and-done in the playoffs, with a loss to the Patriots. History repeats itself as the Chargers get beat by New England. Norv Turner gets back on the hot seat, as many wonder if he’ll ever be able to reach the Super Bowl with so much talent.

Best Case Scenario: The Chargers easily handle the undermanned Patriots and with the Colts upset, the Chargers get to host the AFC Championship game. The Chargers beat the Bengals for the second time in a month and go to Miami on a wave of confidence. There, Rivers outplays Brees and becomes the third quarterback from the class of 2004 to hoist the Lombardi trophy.

 

 

No. 1 seed: Indianapolis Colts

 

You may have heard about the controversy surrounding the Colts recently. The Colts started the season 14-0 and inspired a lot of talk about going for a perfect season, but the Colts’ management had other ideas. The starters were pulled against the Jets and since then Colts’ fans have been seething about the decision to rest key players (and secretly concerned that they are one Peyton Manning injury away from seeing a Curtis Painter-led team).

But in reality, a Manning-led Colts team has yet to lose again. The Colts have had many close calls, but Manning has been his best when the pressure is on. The Colts may have issues, primarily their league-worst rushing attack, but the Colts started 14-0 for a reason.

Worst Case Scenario: The Colts start the game flat and can’t muster a comeback as the Bengals use their ground game to play keep-away from Manning. For the third straight year, the Colts’ playoff run ends as soon as it begins. Just weeks away from wondering if they can go 16-0 and win the Super Bowl, the Colts are left with nothing but disappointment.

Best Case Scenario: Colts beat the Bengals easily and prepare to host the surging Chargers. Manning outplays Rivers as the Colts regain the look they had through much of the season. In the Super Bowl, the league ends up getting the dream matchup, Colts vs. Saints.

Manning and Brees put on a show, with Manning getting the ball and a chance to win with just minutes remaining. For the seventh time this year, Manning leads the Colts to a come from behind victory and wins his second Super Bowl MVP award.

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Shanahan In: Agrees To Five Year Deal With Washington Redskins

In the matter of 48 hours, the Washington Redskins have gotten things done.  Jim Zorn is out, and a breaking news story that Mike Shanahan has signed a five year deal worth $7 million is in.

Shanahan flew to Washington D.C. on Monday to discuss a possible agreement with the Redskins that he would immediately take over previous coach Jim Zorn’s head coaching job.

This news is definitely what the Redskins wanted to hear.  The former Denver Broncos Head Coach, Shanahan is no stranger to the game.  With a bitter exit from the Broncos at the beginning of last season, Mike will enter the Redskins locker room with a point to prove, and better yet a team to rebuild.

Shanahan will also bring his son Kyle up from Houston to be the new offense coordinator of the Redskins.

On the defensive side, the Redskins staff is preparing to interview Mike Zimmer, defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals.  Zimmer’s job could be in jeopardy, particularly if the Bengals lose to the Jets this Sunday.

The two time Super Bowl winning coach brings a lot to the table of a team that has struggled.  Not only will he take over the head coaching role, he is also set to become the new executive-vice president in Washington.

The Redskins brought talent in the last off season, this time they are placing coaches in to help build structure in their organization.  It is definitely a positive start to an off season that has only just begun.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Will Tim Tebow Trade Orange-N-Blue for Black-N-Gold? How Sweet It Would Be

We’ve all heard the arguments from his detractors (mostly unemployed NFL coaches like Brian Billick or NFL draft gurus who spend a lot of time primping their hair or the beer-bellies in the cheap seats).

He doesn’t take snaps from under center, they say.

His throwing motion is too long, they say.

He drops the ball too low on his delivery, they say.

His arm strength is not great, they say.

His running style won’t work, they say.

And I suppose this is somewhat understandable. If Tim Tebow has beaten your team’s brains out the past four years. If you’re not good enough to beat him on the field, well, then, your only recourse is to say he’s not an NFL quarterback. And then you can return to your miserable job on Monday morning feeling a little better about yourself.

For those of us fortunate enough to witness his extraordinary performance Friday night in the Sugar Bowl, any lingering doubts surrounding his ability as a successful NFL quarterback were promptly assuaged.

It was the finest QB performance seen in Sugar Bowl history since Michael Vick’s magic show in a losing effort to Florida State in 2000.

533 total yards. 382 passing yards. 51 rushing yards. He must be suffering from writer’s cramp after rewriting all those record books.

“When it comes to Tim Tebow there are two different types of people,” said WGSO’s Kenny Trahan this week on New Orleans radio’s best radio sports talk show.

“You either love him…and the other people don’t hate him, they’re just jealous or envious of him for all the attention he has received, and those are the people who take shots at him and try to put him down and say he’s not going to make it and analyze everything and I think there is a degree of envy and jealousy there.”

Envy and jealousy. The evil twins.

And it is a shame considering the young man represents everything that is good and decent and right about the game on and off the field.

For those with a hidden agenda regarding Tebow, this column isn’t for you.

Go read about cheerleaders or how everything is hunky-dory with the New Orleans Saints run defense.

Life must be nice on Fantasy Island.

Among those without an axe to grind, there is a growing consensus that if Tebow is fortunate enough to land in the right situation (New England or New Orleans, for example) and can sit for a couple of years as he learns the finer points of the game under a Brady or Brees or Manning, he has a chance to prosper as an NFL starting quarterback, a la Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers.

ABC 26 Sports Director Ed Daniels said Saturday morning, “Can he (Tebow) play in the National Football League? I think he can but I think the one thing he needs to do is be in a situation where he’s not asked to really play quarterback in the NFL for a year or two.

“I think he’s got to learn to play the NFL game. At Florida, he worked out of the shotgun. He’s not, 3-5 and 7 step drop. He’s got to learn how to do that. He’s got to shorten his motion. He’s got to learn to throw it into tight windows.

“Can he learn all these things? Absolutely yes,” said Daniels.

Added Trahan, “No one is a more determined and a harder worker than he is. You won’t find a more positive guy and understandably this is a guy somebody is going to take a chance on because of his incredible character and work ethic.”

Similar sentiments were expressed not too many years ago about a QB named Drew Brees at the conclusion of his brilliant collegiate career at Purdue.

If you buy into the logic of Tebow’s detractors (an angry, sad, bitter lot), Drew Brees would have never been given the chance to start in the NFL; too short, lacks a strong arm, throws the ball with a low trajectory.

And what about Archie Manning? He threw side-armed, didn’t he? And Fran Tarkenton was vertically challenged at a little under six feet. Billy Kilmer threw a wobbly ball. Dan Marino couldn’t move. And Joe Montana lacked proper mechanics and a gun for an arm.

The Score Takes Care of Itself Jack!

As for Tebow, he said before leaving the Superdome field on Friday night that all he wants is a chance to play the position he’s dreamed of playing since he was a kid.

“I hope that I just get the opportunity and the chance to play quarterback at the next level. It’s been my goal since I was a little boy and I’m working extremely hard at achieving that goal.”

After watching Mark Brunell’s woeful performance on Sunday against Carolina, your mind couldn’t help but wander back to Tebow’s just two nights earlier in a 52-24 thrashing of previously undefeated Cincinnati in New Orleans; and dream about this young Kenny Stabler donning the black-n-gold as Brees’ understudy in 2010.

Tebow’s critics be damned. Fools, every last one of them.

As per the late great Bill Walsh, the score takes care of itself for those who have paid the price. Time will tell and time is on Tebow’s side.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Stadium Journey: Patriots’ First-Class Home Mirrors First-Class Team

Without question, the New England Patriots have been the class of the NFL since Bill Belichick became their head coach back in 2000.

Their three Lombardi Trophies, four Super Bowl appearances, 14 playoff wins, and .700 win percentage set them apart as the top franchise of the Noughties—a decade in which they endured only one losing season.

You’d figure that the home for a team like this would be, in the words of Massachusetts’ own John Winthrop, a “shining city upon a hill.”

Prior to this season, though, you’d have been wrong—or, rather, not yet right.

Gillette Stadium is, in itself, a good setting for a football game. Its three broad, flattish tiers rise almost imperceptibly from the field to a formidable stacked height, crowned by full rows of floodlights.

The sometimes-harsh elements of New England’s winter season are given ample open space, through the end zones and from above, to come in and play. In the subtle polish of dark red and blue, with guts of grey concrete, the venue embodies the stolid professionalism of the organization it houses. There isn’t a bad seat in the house, but you’re not living in luxury, either.

Until the tail end of the Patriots’ 2007 season, that was the sum total of the game-day experience. Outside, construction skeletons, dirt-strewn pedestrian walkways, and parking lots littered the flatland patch of Foxborough along Route 1, where Gillette had been plopped down in 2002, just up the road from an unremarkable suburban neighborhood.

Over the past two years, though, completed pieces have filled big spaces in team owner Robert Kraft’s ambitious framework.

From a 142,000 square-foot Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World store in 2007, to The Hall—New England’s own football hall of fame—in 2008 and several prominent restaurants in 2009, the stadium that once stood alone has become the nucleus of what Kraft calls “a super-regional lifestyle and entertainment center,” complete with its own four-star hotel and 14-screen movie theater.

Make no mistake: Patriot Place is that “city upon a hill,” and it makes Gillette Stadium as elite among sporting venues as its Patriots have been among football teams.

FANFARE Score: 28

(StadiumJourney.com’s unique “FANFARE” metric scores venues on a five-point scale in six categories, with additional bonus points awarded at the reviewer’s discretion.)

Food & Beverage: 4

The in-stadium concessions, unfortunately, are anything but elite. Sam Adams on tap is an admirable alternative to the standard domestic fare, and $4 small beers aren’t a bad value as ballgame brews go.

But Gillette’s too-typical selection of $5 hot dogs and $7 sausages is uninspiring, and paying $9 for a combo at one of the two McDonald’s locations sucks the “value” right out of your value meal.

Given that, there’s no earthly reason to get your grub inside the gates.

Along the thoroughfares of Patriot Place, several city blocks’ worth of dining options have been slotted between shops.

Ranging from $8 burritos at Qdoba to $50 rib eye steaks at Davio’s, with chains such as Red Robin and Olive Garden and several other restaurants priced between, there’s something for every palate and budget.

And then there’s Five Guys.

The burgers and fries served up by this Alexandria, Va.-based chain deserve paragraphs upon paragraphs of praise.

Suffice to say, there’s nary a freezer on the premises—meaning fresh 80% lean beef, vegetables, and bread—and the spuds that end up as your fries are cut and cold-soaked the morning of your visit. A burger, fries, and a drink costs around $10, and you’ll bless every penny of it.

 

Atmosphere: 5

Maybe it’s the ever-present (and sometimes oppressive) touch of the New England cold, the parking lot talk of “layering up” and keeping your feet warm, and the resultant sea of heavy jackets, coveralls, and snow caps.

Maybe it’s the sheer overflow of that crowd, which fills all of the stadium’s 68,756 seats and spills over heavily into areas for “standing room only” ticket-holders, or the feeling of taking part in the mass movement of so many people to and from their seats, or the sound of them all screaming for a big play or shouting to finish the announcer’s sentence: “First down!”

Maybe it’s just that the Patriots, who are 60-12 all-time (and 7-0 in the playoffs) at Gillette, usually give their home crowd plenty to cheer about.

Whatever the reason, the place feels like big-time professional football. From the tailgate-swamped lots to the bustling shops to the concourses and stands, it exudes “place-to-be” appeal.

The modern fan can follow his fantasy team and the rest of the NFL at CBS Scene, a restaurant and bar just outside the gates.

Next door, The Hall at Patriot Place ($10 admission) celebrates New England football, through exhibits ranging from local prep school history to the actual snowplow used in the infamous 1982 “Snow Plow Game,” in addition to the frequent presence of legendary former players.

 

Neighborhood: 5

Gillette Stadium has two neighborhoods, really. One (Patriot Place) surrounds the stadium, self-sufficient in its abundance of attractions. CBS Scene doubles as a nightclub, and shops for global brands such as Reebok and Hollister stand next to the theater and plethora of restaurants mentioned above, in addition to the row of sizable chain stores located across the parking lots to the east.

In their midst, a bank branch and a four-story health care center suggest that the Patriots’ block of town aspires to be a hub for more than just out-of-town football fans and shoppers.

Perhaps equally as fascinating are the otherwise run-of-the-mill neighborhoods a stone’s throw down Route 1, in the shadow of these developments.

A far cry from venues like Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium and Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium, which sit squarely in the heart of those cities’ downtown areas, Gillette’s parking lots rub elbows with side streets lined by houses that could be found in any American small town. Less than a mile east of Patriot Place along the highway, on the corner of North Street, a video rental store and pizzeria sit across from a gas station and a McDonald’s.

Commuter rail connects Foxborough to big-city Boston on game days, but the two feel worlds apart in spirit.

 

Fans: 5

The rowdies who filled Foxboro Stadium (the Patriots’ previous home) would have been much more intolerant of the visiting team’s colors, most fans in attendance insisted. Patriots fans of old, they said, would raucously liquor themselves up in the parking lots before rampaging inside the gates.

A real rough bunch, by all accounts—and, yet, no sign of them this year.

Plenty of good-natured ribbing, loud cheering, and team spirit. Amongst the tens of thousands, plenty of characters stood out. One fan dressed up as a wolf-man, one as a silver-faced Patriots superhero from his own imagination, and even one as Randy Moss.

Most importantly, they came in droves. In a season when some NFL teams’ attendance figures have taken a hit from tough economic times, New England fans shrugged off a wet, windy morning to fill their stadium to its brim and make the kind of noise a professional football team deserves from the home crowd.

 

Access: 2

In one way, of course, tens of thousands of fans and a charming small-town backdrop don’t mix well—a realization that crushes all but the earliest to leave Gillette on game day.

Remember the sea of tailgaters in the vast, crowded parking lots? The two-lane highway (Route 1) through the charming small town?

That’s the only way out. For everybody.

Some people park in the $40 spots around Patriot Place, while some choose the $20 lots down the highway. (No one uses the town’s stores, whose game-day towing policies are ferocious.) Some head for the exits in the fourth quarter, while others wait out the storm for hours after the game at their tailgates. All of them must confront the bumper-to-bumper gridlock that builds in both directions away from Gillette.

Expect to spend extra hours getting through the first miles back toward wherever you came from.

 

Return on Investment: 4

As much as Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place pack an ultra-modern excitement punch, rivaled only by the rich history and intrinsic value of venues such as Lambeau Field and Camden Yards, spending a Sunday there might hit your wallet even harder.

The Fan Cost Index (FCI) developed by Team Marketing measures NFL teams’ game-day affordability by calculating the average price for a family of four to buy four tickets, soft drinks, and hot dogs, two small beers, programs, hats, and parking. On average, that experience costs about $415; this year, New England’s FCI was close to $600.

Only 10 teams were above the league average FCI; only Dallas’ astronomical $758 outstripped the Patriots.

For that price, Gillette Stadium, the on-field product—and all of Patriot Place’s bells and whistles—should be every bit as good as they are.

In case you’d forgotten, in visiting some less-than-stellar stadiums, that a trip to an NFL game can be a big-time experience, the price tag here should be an easy reminder.

 

Etc. (Everything Else and Bonus Points): 3

One point for the distinctive lighthouse and bridge marking the stadium’s entrance, a replica of the Longfellow Bridge that connects Boston and Cambridge. The team enters from under it to thunderous applause, and the organization has used it with great success to increase the venue’s brand equity.

Another for the Moss-costumed fan and Randy Moss himself, whose impromptu touchdown celebration competition via Jumbotron drew big cheers from a happy crowd, and took the edge off of recent tension between Moss and some local fans and media.

Lastly, one point for the tailgate party four cars over. The beer you donated didn’t take the sting out of my Jaguars’ 35-7 loss like you’d hoped, but getting to experience your Patriots’ place certainly helped.

 

[This article was originally published on StadiumJourney.com .]

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Bears President Ted Phillips Banking On Jerry Angelo-Lovie Smith Duo

LAKE FOREST, IL — Not only will Bears coach Lovie Smith be back, but so too will the cover-2 defensive scheme that has been his trademark.

“We haven’t played it as well as we need to,” Smith said. “But as long as I am the head football coach here, that is something that I believe in and we will keep continuing to make our scheme better, but we will be running some form of that.”

It just won’t be Smith calling the defensive plays like this year. Nor will Ron Turner be calling offensive plays as he’d done since 2005 after being the sacrificial lamb offered up Tuesday to appease Bears fans angered over the third straight non-playoff season.

Turner and offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, offensive line assistant Luke Butkus, tight ends coach Rob Boras, quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton and wide receivers assistant Charles London all lost their jobs as Smith used a press conference at Halas Hall to voice a need to get fresh ideas on offense suited to quarterback Jay Cutler’s skills.

“Offensively, right now, I’m pretty much open,” Smith said. “You (media) guys know what my philosophy is as far as being able to run the football. I still want to be able to run the football.

“We realize we have maybe some of our best weapons at the receiver position so we’ll be looking to of course expand on that. But we’re not happy with where we are. We realize it has been three years since we have been to the playoffs.”

Team president Ted Phillips insisted the decision to keep Smith on as head coach had nothing to do with the two years and $11 million remaining on his contract. But it’s quite apparent team ownership expects a winning — if not playoff — season in 2010 following three seasons of 7-9, 9-7 and 7-9.

“One thing we’ve never had with coach Smith has been back-to-back losing years,” Phillips said. “There’s a fine line sometimes between winning and losing, but we expect to win now in 2010.”

Now Smith faces the difficult task of finding suitable coordinators willing to come in facing the possibility they might be done after only one year.

“How are we going to convince someone to come here to coach the Chicago Bears, our offensive positions, defensive positions?” Smith said. “Believe me, people will want to come here.

“Coaches don’t deal in long-term commitments and things like that. It’s about getting the job done right away. There will be a lot of candidates that will come and want to be a part of what we’re going to do next year.”

Names have been bandied about, although General Manager Jerry Angelo said no contact has yet been made with potential candidates. Coaches with ties to Smith naturally come up. Like his former boss in St. Louis, Mike Martz, who told Chicago ESPN radio Tuesday that he would be interested in the position. Former Buffalo Bills interim head coach Perry Fewell would be another with ties to Chicago, as Smith’s defensive backs coach in 2005.

“We have a good nucleus of players here that they all see,” Smith said. “I think an offensive guy would want to come here and have a chance to work with a Jay Cutler, and have a chance to mold some of the young receivers and get the offense back on track.

“I think a defensive guy would want to come here and coordinate a defense with a guy like Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, and guys like that, and fix some of the third downs. I think he is going to look at and he’s not going to see a lot of big holes, he’s going to look at us tightening up a couple bolts to get back. Somebody will want to do that.”

The Bears finished 27th stopping third down conversions this season (41.2 percent) and 17th in total defense. They were blown out of games with Minnesota, Arizona, Cincinnati and Baltimore.

“I’m concerned that there were games this year that were over at halftime,” Angelo said. “All right. Part of that, a big part of that, was our defense. I’m concerned about that. We have issues that we have to deal with on defense: scheme, personnel. Yes. We don’t have as many dominating players on defense to do what we did in past years.

“Are there some things that maybe we could do from the scheme perspective to maybe help better the players that we have? I’m sure Lovie and the staff are going to look at that hard. So it’s probably a combination of the two.”

Angelo thinks the team can find the talent needed to get back into the playoffs. Even though the Bears lack a first- and second-round draft pick and the free agency pool might be dry because of an uncapped year approaching without a collective bargaining agreement.

He also said there could yet be changes in his own scouting and administrative staff.

“I’m not going to sit here and make any determinations right now,” he said. “We’re still going through our evaluation process. Our calendar works differently than the coaches’ calendar, so everything will be addressed at its proper time given the evaluation.”

The personnel calendar usually run through the April draft and ensuing rookie camp.

Angelo himself was closely scrutinized. Angelo said Phillips gave him a “vote of confidence” and then gave one to Smith.

The one who didn’t get the vote of confidence was Turner, whose offense finished tied for 19th in scoring (20.4 ppg) and 23rd in yardage (310.3 per game).

“I’m not going to sit here and say everything that went wrong with this football team was because of how we ran our offense,” Angelo said. “No. That’s not accurate either. It’s a combination of a lot of things here and nobody has 100 percent the answer. Nobody. There’s no guarantees on anything.

“Everything evolves. These are decisions. There are a lot of grays in these decisions. You (media) have opinions. I listen to your opinions all the time. If you were held accountable, some of you on some of the opinions you give, you would have a crayon in your hand.”

Smith and Angelo have to hope the decisions they make this year are right.

Another losing season would be the first consecutively since Smith became coach and most likely signal the end of a regime that started in 2004, after Dick Jauron was fired by Angelo following two straight losing seasons.

“I know some may disagree, but I believe that the fastest way to improve is to keep the continuity that we’ve had with both Jerry Angelo as our general manager and Lovie Smith as our head coach,” said Phillips.

The Bears’ president has a stake in this now, too. Even though his contract runs to 2013, he has now put his chips firmly on Smith and Angelo.

2010 promises to be a high-stakes season for the Bears.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Washington Redskins Hire Mike Shanahan As President and Coach

The Washington Redskins and Mike Shanahan have finally come to an agreement.  Shanahan signed a five-year deal to become the team’s President of Football Operations and head football coach, according to the Denver Post. 

Although the details of the agreement have not been released, it is believed that Shanahan will hold the highest ranking position with the team outside of owner Daniel Snyder.

If this is the case, Shanahan will be new General Manager Bruce Allen’s boss and have final say over all transactions and football decisions.

Stay tuned for additional information as it is released. 

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Cardinals-Packers: Matchups That Matter

Charles Woodson vs. Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin

There is a large circle of media and fans alike that think Packers’ CB Charles Woodson should be crowned the NFL’s Defensive MVP immediately.

He very well could earn that title before game time, since it is likely we will hear the results of the voting process before Sunday afternoon’s Packers-Cardinals rematch.

Woodson has had an outstanding year and has earned his reputation over his 12-year career. He’ll have a chance to add to his legacy if he performs admirably against two of the game’s best receivers in Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

Woodson will likely be lined up primarily against Fitzgerald, but I’m sure his pads will come into contact with Anquan, as well.

In one-on-one coverage with Fitzgerald, experience favors Woodson, but the height advantage and hands go to Larry.

Both are Pro Bowlers with serious ball skills, so the question is: Who will have more tenacity? It is an even draw otherwise.

Q is currently listed as questionable with knee and ankle issues, but if history repeats itself, Boldin will find a way onto the field, regardless of how hobbled he is.

It is fair to assume that if he plays he will be gimpy, which will most certainly be a Packers advantage with one caveat: If Early Doucet rises to the challenge and continues to make his presence known, he could help offset the Boldin deficit.

Early has really been coming on strong as of late. It is clear the game has slowed down for him, he is playing with much more swagger, and he is a player conveniently in the mold of Q.

Aaron Rodgers vs. the Arizona Secondary

I am a big fan of Aaron Rodgers. What he has been able to accomplish after replacing a legend in a legendary football town is simply amazing.

With Peyton Manning’s offensive line his team may have gone 14-2, too. Rodgers has some of the best touch on the ball of anyone in the game right now, especially deep.

With the emergence of budding star TE Jermichael Finley, the Packers’ arsenal is downright scary: WR’s Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones and Jordy Nelson, not to mention being able to hand off or throw to Ryan Grant.

Two things need to happen if the Cardinals have any chance of shutting Aaron down: Pro Bowl CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie needs to play and play well, and the Arizona pass rush needs to get to Rodgers early and often.

DRC is questionable with cleat knee—you know, when a knee gets gashed and bruised on another player’s upturned cleats? Okay so I know that is not a medical term, but consider it coined.

DRC’s fluidity of movement will have a lot to do with Rodger’s success, or lack thereof. If he has has full range of movement it will limit the amount of available receiving options, as DRC is known to blanket opponents.

The pass rush is perhaps even more crucial than DRC’s health.

In the Week 17 game, the Cardinals refused to show any aggressive packages and did not blitz one time. This is from a team whose bread and butter has been the sack—they finished with 43 sacks, just five shy of the NFL-leading 48 put up by the Vikings.

DE Calais Campbell is the third key Cardinal player who is listed as questionable for the game. He has a broken thumb, but may be able to play with a cast. Arizona fans hope so since he is tied with Pro Bowler Darnell Dockett for the team lead in sacks with seven.

The Packers offensive line made a name for themselves by allowing Rodgers to be sacked a league-tying 50 times, but in fairness, the majority of those came in the first half of the season. After eight games, Aaron was laid down a whopping 37 times, and therefore only 13 times in the last eight.

The Cardinals hope to ramp up their blitz, and throw a flurry of confusing formations at his O-line to persuade them to get back to their bad habits.

If they can’t, Rodgers could have a field day.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Gary Kubiak Deserves One More Year WIth The Houston Texans

(Photo caption: Gary Kubiak applauds my approval of one more year at the helm of the Texans.)

I’ll be the first to admit I’m not a big Gary Kubiak fan. I’ve written more than once on this site about my dislike for Kubes.

And you know this. No need to recap.

But I’ll say this now: Kubiak deserves one more year to show he’s the right man for the job. 

Or, if you’re slightly less optimistic, Kubiak has one more year to show that he’s in over his head.

I don’t think Kubiak should get an extension or a raise on his current contract. The original deal was five seasons for $10 million. 

Pretty decent salary for a first time head coach, even if he did have ties to Houston.

Owner Bob McNair should let this contract run its course. If the Texans are in the playoffs next year, or even make some noise, an extension is warranted. If the Texans don’t make it to the dance…well, the leader of the band should be sent home.

Has Gary done much to prove he deserves to stick around longer? His career record is 31-33. He’s coming off of his first winning season. But I think there is room for improvement.

In the National Football League (imagine Ron Jaworski saying that), you are what your record is. I don’t think that’s a debatable point. So, based on his record, Kubes is a slightly below average coach. So far.

But let’s go further. Other coaches have started their careers slowly. The Great Hooded One started 36-44 in his first head coaching gig in Cleveland. I’m not comparing the two coaches, but Rome wasn’t built in a day, if you follow.

Bill Parcells went 3-12-1 his first season. Bill Walsh went 2-14. Not many coaches win Super Bowls right out of the gate. 

You get the point. A slow start doesn’t mean a guy can’t coach.

Even I think that Kubiak deserves one more year to show he can be more than an offensive coordinator. There is no doubt his offense works. And we can build on that.

Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels are proof of how well the offense can function when good players run it. Undrafted running back Arian Foster showed how well the running game can work when blocked effectively (granted, New England wasn’t playing his top lineman, but an NFL defense coached by Bill Belichick is nothing to scoff at).

But there is a long line of guys who can draw up the Xs and Os. Being the top dog means more than that. I’ll point to Cam Cameron, Charlie Weis, and even Norv Turner (before this season) as recent examples. 

Being a successful NFL coach is about leadership and attitude. Look at Super Bowl winning coaches: Vince Lombardi, Belichick, Parcells, Jimmy Johnson. These were leaders who coached with a certain attitude and toughness. Their teams embodied those ideals.

I’m not saying that a coach must be an in-your-face or mean S.O.B. type. 

Look at Tony Dungy and Bill Walsh: genuinely nice men who were winners. But these two were still tough, even if they weren’t screamers and yellers and intimidators (that’s a word). 

Inner toughness, quiet toughness…Whatever you want to call it, these men had it.

Let’s go back to Norv Turner. He ran great offenses at every stop he had in the NFL. But he couldn’t ever be the top guy until this year. Maybe something changed in his attitude or outlook. Maybe his message got through to the players better this year than in years past. Either way, he’s a more successful coach than ever before.

This is who Texan fans must hope Kubiak emulates. Kubes has had his run of good offenses, both in Mile High City and the Bayou City. The time has come for him to turn it all around and become the head coach the Texans need.

We all know he can run a great offense and put together plays. We all hope he does a better job next season. He won’t get another chance in Houston if the Texans fall short of the playoffs. Kubes needs to do more than just come up with good plays.

I think the Texans are a few tweaks away from being a serious contender. More talent in the backfield, and improved health and play from the interior of the line on offense. A top-notch cornerback and free safety on defense. Maybe a big defensive tackle. Huge changes are not needed.

The same can be said about Kubiak.

If it were up to me, I’d demand Kubiak improve his body language on the sidelines. Not looking at field goals is something for fans to do…not NFL head coaches. Man up, Gary.

The coaching staff (who are a reflection of Kubiak) must do a better job of keeping their feet on the gas. How many more times will the Texans race out to a lead, only to lose it later? Not under Kubiak.

That is, if he wants to keep his job.

The Texans must become more aggressive and develop a killer instinct. Or bring in more players who play like Brian Cushing and Bernard Pollard. Toughness is more than just yelling and screaming. And leadership is more than just saying the right things.

Kubiak must prepare the team to play tough games right away. Winning games when the pressure is off is for high school, not the NFL. Laying eggs like the Steelers game in 2009 and this season’s opener against the Jets are only two examples. 

Bring it from the beginning, Kubiak.

Kubes has one more season to get over the hump. Otherwise, he might be joining his old boss Mike Shanahan and current offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan in Washington in 2011. Or maybe he’ll be on TV. 

All I know is, he won’t be coaching our Texans.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Mike Shanahan and Jim Zorn: The NFL Coaching Merry-Go-Round Continues

With Mike Shanahan seemingly closing in on a deal to take over the coaching reins in Washington, D.C., hearts are breaking in upstate New York.

But having lived in D.C. the past three years, I can tell you it’s a familiar feeling for Washington.

The excitement when Zorn was hired wasn’t what you’d call palpable, but it was real.

Redskins fans I knew said they’d have a guy who could provide some much-needed creativity and stability—and a young quarterback—to a franchise that hadn’t seen much of either in recent years.

Now two years later, Jim Zorn is looked upon as a failure in D.C. for two sins that were largely out of his control: failing to pierce one of the toughest divisions in football and not being able to turn Jason Campbell into the elite quarterback he’s capable of being.

At least Zorn isn’t alone on the unemployment line. Across the league several coaches and coordinators are polishing up their resumes, whether they’ve been fired yet or not.

Watching the Shanahan news break, a co-worker quipped about Zorn: “Well, he’ll not get hired anywhere in the NFL again.”

And yet, that’s probably exactly what will happen. Jim Zorn will likely have to work his way back up through the ranks, never having been a head coach before his time in Washington. But he’ll probably get another shot in a league that loves to recycle its people.

Head coaches in the NFL survive largely on the basis of perception. Wade Phillips won the NFC East and has guided the development of Tony Romo to elite status. And yet, you still have the feeling that anything less than an NFC championship could see him out the door if Bill Cowher’s on the line.

Chargers coach Norv Turner looked to be a sure bet to lose his job by midseason before his team decided to rattle off 11 straight wins en route to becoming, once again, the sexy Super Bowl pick.

This is before we even get to the coaches who didn’t help their teams win division titles this season.

In truth the NFL is a closed fraternity. Of the coaches fired last season, most don’t stray too far from the game. Eric Mangini went to the Browns, Mike Shanahan is now back in the running for the Washington gig (reportedly after receiving a hefty sum to not coach this year), Rod Marinelli is the defensive line coach of the Chicago Bears, Herm Edwards is an ESPN analyst, Tony Dungy walked away voluntarily, Jon Gruden was on Monday Night Football. The list goes on and on.

Of all the head coaches who were fired after the 2008 season, only Romeo Crennel looks to be completely out of football for the moment—although even now it looks as though he may have a chance to become a defensive coach (and possibly coordinator) with the New York Giants.

But is this good for the NFL?

Obviously hiring former head coaches is no guarantee of success.

Several teams have then experimented with their hires in recent seasons, bringing in guys with no head coaching experience, trying to plumb the depths of the college game, or going after candidates who were not even coordinators previously.

Raheem Morris, Tom Cable, Jim Caldwell, Mike Singletary, and Jim Mora were all brought in as head coaches during the 2009 offseason (or in the middle of the 2008 season) with no previous NFL head coaching or coordinating experience.

Other than Jim Caldwell, none really saw a great deal of success this season, although with only a season under their belts, it may be too early to make any real judgements on their abilities.

Still, one has to wonder if one year is enough time to really get a hold on the NFL game; to implement a system and find success, especially when candidates are largely asked to learn on the job.

In many ways, some of these guys may be better off as coordinators. Two perfect examples are Cam Cameron and Mike Nolan. Both were very good in their previous stints as coordinators and, after finding little success as head coaches, have moved back to their previous job.

Cam Cameron has put together a nice offense in Baltimore despite having a rookie quarterback who struggled diagnosing the blitz last season. Mike Nolan put together a defense that was quite able despite being saddled with veterans who, physically, weren’t at their peaks in 2009.

It’s a refreshing sign to see guys working at a capacity that suits their talents better, but even these are most likely pit stops for Nolan and Cameron until head coaching jobs open up in the next couple of seasons.

Remember this is a league where Mike Shanahan—a coach with two Super Bowls to his name— is championed as the savior of D.C. just two years after being removed for sliding performance in Denver.

This isn’t to say Mike Shanahan isn’t an effective football coach. He’s very good. But the simple fact remains that the league is always evolving in play while continually looking backwards for coaching.

The truth for Nolan and Cameron is that, as coordinators, they have little control over their futures with their current clubs. If John Harbaugh or Josh McDaniels get the axe, there’s no guarantee either coordinator would remain on staff.

So take heart, Jim Zorn. At least the likely hiring of your replacement shows there’s always a place for former head coaches with an NFL franchise on their resume.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Looking Ahead: What Should The Oakland Raiders Do In The NFL Draft?

It is that time of year again. You know, the time of year when technically the days are getting longer and brighter, while the bulb in Al Davis’ head never seems to change?

That, and it’s also the time of year when fans of teams on the outside of the postseason start looking ahead to the Draft and what may come from free-agency.

If no CBA is signed with the Players Union, free-agency will be much different than it has been.  Any player that signed as a rookie less than six years ago but has an expiring contract, will not be a UFA, but rather an RFA.

Meaning that, an NFL player is required to play six years with the team that selected him before becoming an Unrestricted Free Agent.

Moreover, NFL clubs will have three franchise tags instead of one, while clubs that finish in the Final 8 (24-32) will have stiff restrictions on their ability to sign or resign free-agents.

Nevertheless, with three franchise tags in hand, the chances of an impact starter getting loose in free-agency is slim to nil.

Already, I have seen “Mock Drafts” which think that the Raiders could target a quarterback or linebacker, such as Ryan Mallet and Rolando McClain. 

Al Davis generally doesn’t use top picks on linebackers and if anything, Davis is still committed to JaMarcus Russell, while the progress of LB Trevor Scott seemingly suggests that linebacker is no longer a priority, anyway.

After that, safety Taylor Mays has been mentioned as a possibility, because of his measurables. Mays would help a secondary that has been burned deep and has had trouble with running backs going long.

Picking Mays would allow the Raiders some options in the secondary, such as giving more time to Michael Huff at corner, which is where he played in college. 

I note that, because Nnamdi Asomugha played safety from 2003-2005 before returning to his college position of corner, where he has dominated, and so I wonder if Huff could do the same.

Yet, the progress made by former top pick Huff, former fourth round pick Tyvon Branch, and 2009 second-round pick Mike Mitchell, would seemingly suggest another direction than safety.

That said, I would not rule out Mays as possible, considering the selection of Darrius Heyward-Bey in 2009. It seems that every year, mock drafts pick wrong with the Raiders (good or bad), and when some started saying Heyward-Bey, I didn’t believe it.

Live and learn.

The most pressing needs for the Raiders are right tackle, nose tackle, defensive back depth, and guard depth. 

The Raiders need to get better in run support at the line and need stability on the right side of the offensive-line, where the retread Cornell Green has been both injury and penalty prone.

I’d say that a defensive-tackle is a safe pick in the first round. If the Raiders can’t find a right tackle in free agency, then the second round or later should have talent available, while guards can be found in the later rounds.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

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